Cleaning composition and method of forming the same

Abstract

A cleaning composition comprises a chelating component. The chelating component is generally selected from the group of methylglycine-N—N-diacetic acid (MGDA), N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamate (GLDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and mixtures thereof. The cleaning composition further comprises a builder component comprising a metal silicate and/or a metal carbonate. The cleaning composition further comprises a solvent component comprising an alkanolamine. The cleaning composition further comprises a polymer component comprising a polyacrylic acid (PAA) and/or an acrylic-maleic copolymer. Optionally, the cleaning composition can further comprise a surfactant component. The cleaning composition is useful for removing tough soil from a ware surface in a dishwasher, such as for removing proteinaceous, carbohydrate, and/or fatty materials from cookware, bakeware, tableware, dishware, flatware, and/or glassware in an automatic dishwasher. A method of forming the cleaning composition is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning composition for removing tough soil from a ware surface, said cleaning composition comprising:
 A) a chelating component selected from the group of;
 a1) methylglycine-N—N-diacetic acid (MGDA), 
 a2) N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamate (GLDA), 
 a3) nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), 
 a4) hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), 
 a5) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 
 a6) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and 
 a7) mixtures thereof; 
   B) a builder component comprising;
 b1) a metal silicate, and/or 
 b2) a metal carbonate; 
   C) a solvent component comprising an alkanolamine; and   D) a polymer component comprising;
 d1) a polyacrylic acid (PAA), and/or 
 d2) an acrylic-maleic copolymer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said chelating component is present in an amount of from about 10 to about 55 weight percent (wt %) based on 100 parts by weight of said cleaning composition. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said chelating component comprises MGDA. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said builder component is present in an amount of from about 20 to 60 weight percent (wt %) based on 100 parts by weight of said cleaning composition. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said builder component comprises a sodium metasilicate. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said sodium metasilicate has a SiO 2 :Na 2 O ratio of from about 1:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said solvent is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent (wt %) based on 100 parts by weight of said cleaning composition. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said alkanolamine comprises an ethanolamine. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said ethanolamine is monoethanolamine (MEA). 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said polymer component is present in an amount of from about 5 to about 40 weight percent (wt %) based on 100 parts by weight of said cleaning composition. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said polymer component comprises PAA. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said chelating component is present in an amount of from about 15 to about 50 weight percent (wt %), said builder component is present in an amount of from about 25 to 55 wt %, said solvent is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 25 wt %, and said polymer component is present in an amount of from about 10 to about 35 wt %, each based on 100 parts by weight of said cleaning composition. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a surfactant component. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said chelating component and said solvent component is further defined as a complex comprising the reaction product of an alkanesulfonic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 14  wherein:
 i) said alkanesulfonic acid is methanesulfonic acid (MSA); and 
 ii) said complex comprises the reaction product of said MSA and said MGDA or the reaction product of said MSA and said alkanolamine. 
 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  free of a bleach compound and/or free of a phosphorus-containing compound. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning composition as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 i) the ware surface is further defined as cookware, bakeware, tableware, dishware, flatware, or glassware; and/or 
 ii) the tough soil comprises a proteinaceous, carbohydrate, and/or fatty material. 
 
     
     
         18 . A cleaning composition for removing tough soil from a ware surface, said cleaning composition comprising:
 A) from about 10 to about 55 weight percent (wt %) of a chelating component comprising methylglycine-N—N-diacetic acid (MGDA);   B) from about 20 to about 60 wt % of a builder component comprising a metal silicate;   C) from about 0.5 to about 30 wt % of a solvent component comprising an alkanolamine; and   D) from about 5 to about 40 wt % of a polymer component comprising a polyacrylic acid (PAA);   wherein each wt % is based on 100 parts by weight of said cleaning composition.   
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a cleaning composition for removing tough soil from a ware surface, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing A) a chelating component selected from the group of;
 a1) methylglycine-N—N-diacetic acid (MGDA), 
 a2) N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamate (GLDA), 
 a3) nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), 
 a4) hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), 
 a5) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 
 a6) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and 
 a7) mixtures thereof; 
   providing B) a builder component comprising;
 b1) a metal silicate, and/or 
 b2) a metal carbonate; 
   providing C) a solvent component comprising an alkanolamine;   providing D) a polymer component comprising;
 d1) a polyacrylic acid (PAA), and/or 
 d2) an acrylic-maleic copolymer; 
   combining the chelating component and the polymer component to form a first mixture;   heating the first mixture from a first temperature to a second temperature;   combining the builder component and the first mixture to form a second mixture;   cooling the second mixture from about the second temperature down to a third temperature; and   combining the solvent component and the second mixture to form the cleaning composition.   
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 19  wherein:
 i) the chelating component and the polymer component are each a liquid, the builder component is a solid, the solvent component is a liquid, and the cleaning composition is a paste; and/or 
 ii) the second temperature is from about 45 to about 65° C.